South draughts tourney to assess players
Southern Region Draughts Committee (SRDC) has organised an open tournament to assess 10 players who will represent the region at National Championships in May.
According to the tournament organiser Suzgo Nkhoma, SRDC has secured K100 000 from Jabroma Studios to conduct the day-long tournament at the Malawi National Council of Sports in Blantyre on April 9.
He added that the regional event will also be used to find stand-by representatives, in case some of the qualified top-10 players fail to make it to the national competition due to some unforeseen circumstances.
“We want to assess the strength of our representatives ahead of the national contest. Of course, they have been training on their own, but we want to see for ourselves how prepared they are,” Nkhoma said.
Jalasi Matiyasi, Zalimba Chingoni, Petros Kaliyapa, Ernest Khungwa, Aaron Kayuni, Kondwani Jali, Chikondi Matope, Joseph Nasuva, Dickson Geremu and Ayaru Kangulero were identified as Southern Region ambassadors during qualifiers two months ago.
Matiyasi, who is the South’s top-seed, welcomed the tournament, saying it will help them polish their skills.
At least 32 players, 10 from each of the country’s three regions and seeded Masters Enock Makoka Banda and Moses Wines, are expected to battle it out during the National Championship in Lilongwe between May 26 and 29.
Jabroma Studios managing director Stephen Masamba said his company is committed to helping uplift draughts standards in the country. n
